Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-12-12
PLYMOUTH ROBBERS.
Sheriff Sylvester Describes the
Capture.
To a journal Reporter who Visits the
Prisoners at Pennington.
One is Identified and Both are Removed
to Bangor to Await Examination


Especial to the Kennebec Journal
FAEMISGToN, Dec. IL.
After receiving information that there
were to suspicious parties in the vicinity of
Weld, Deputy Sheriff Sylvester and Mr. I'D.
Horne of Pennington left in pursuit of the
robbers. They tell their story as follows;
We left Pennington about ii 4. NJ
Thursday, and drove to Weld distance of
% miles in two hours. We Immediately
hastened on to Dixfeld. The robbers had
started out of Weld on runners, but the
sleighing got poor they were obliged to
exchange them for wheels. Arriving in Dix
field We learned from the hotel keeper that
he had given them team to get to Bryant's
Pond. Securing fresh horses we followed
them in the night. After we arrived at
Rumford Centre we enquired of the ferry
man if any one answering the description of
the robbers had crossed recently. He re-
piled that there had not so We made up our
minds that they were in Rumford. We
stepped on to the piazza and saw the fell
lows eating supper. We went into the bar
room and told the hotel keeper our purpose
of arresting the robbers. He said he would
assist us. We waited around with hand
cuffs for them to come out. We thought
they would never get through, and the
proprietor said he guessed they would eat
him out of house and home. Coming out
the fellows told the hostler that they wanted
their horses as soon possible as they
wished to catch the next train without fail in
order to get into Canada. We then called
the fellows into another room and told them
that we were going to arrest them on sus-
picion They made some objection We
then proceeded to put on the bracelets. Hav-
ing one cuff on each of the fellows wrists
they began to resist saying they were too
! tight. On the pretense of loosenng them
we slipped them on both their hands and had
them all right. They said they were sleepy
and taking them to a room we guarded them
while they slept short time. Before leav-
ing We searched them and found the articles
which have been named before.
thick set fellow had most of the implements
of war We left Rumford Centre at IL z.
NJ, and arrived in Pennington at $50 a.
NJ They made no attempt to escape on the
journey and seemed sleepy. They were un-
willing to talk any
One of the two men said to be perpetrators
of the recent robbery of S32 900 from Peter
Bennett, proves to be Clarence Whitney son of
Rev John Whitney, now residing at New
port, and nephew of City Marshal George w.
Whitney of Bangor. Both prisoners spent
three hours at Auburn Jail Saturday, having
gone there from Pennington in custody of
Sheriff Sylvester and the Bangor officers
From interviews with the officers it was
learned by your reporter, that Whitney was
at once recognized by Sheriff Brown and
his uncle at the Pennington Jail, although
they could not place his companion, who is
believed to be from the Provinces.
City Marshal Whitney was overcome at
the sight of his nephew. and exclaimed;
My God Cad; is it possible that this is
you?"
Il guess it is" was the reply.
Il didn't know that you were in this part
of the country" said the city marshal, husk
lily.
well, uncle" replied the fellow, this is
all mistake, and can prove it SO, too"
| The two were left alone then and the rest
of the party retired to the Jail office and
Whitney gave his uncle SCI to help to pay
for his defense. The money had been
creted on his person and was not discovered
during the search.
/ Clarence Whitney refused to talk about
the robbery or to outline his defense, but de-
nies all knowledge of the business. He is a
tall slouching fellow, wearing wide soft
felt hat. and has hatchet-like face, marked
with lines of dissipation. His people are
all much esteemed and respectable, the faith
er being a minister, and his brother a civil
engineer for many years. Clarence has
| been a wanderer, travelling all over the
Union. He arrived at Newport little over
week ago, after an absence of years, and
was there at the time of the robbery. 1t is
supposed that while there he learned of the
old man Bennett and his black trunk, and in
connection with his companion planned and
perpetrated the robbery. What is known of
his life seems to warrant this suppostion.
Some of the officers think that Whitney
will eventually squeal, although his uncle
claims not. Among his effects was gold
locket. about an inch square, containing a
photograph of lady, which has been so
mutiated that only the eyes, nose, small por
tions of the checks and upper lip were visi-
BILE. Whitney was very anxious about this,
and entreated the jailer many times to get it
for him, also there was small note book in
which were several pages written in cipher.
He is well acquainted with the sporting
fraternity of Bangor. and inquired in regard
to many inmates of the county Jail.
OF his fellow-prisoner nothing can be
learned. He is a well-built young fellow,
very plainly dressed, but he had a diamond,
however, which is valued at 500. He ap
pears nervous and out of spirits, and could
scarcely btdE ttie pttstuSc VI Nue iAihehst
crowd at the depot. Only S25 was discov-
cred ON the men, who were not searched till
they reached the Pennington jail. Sheriff
Sylvester claims to know just where they
threw away a bundle which he believes con-
tanned the balance of the cash: the sheriff
also claims 10 have certain evidence which
will convict them. This he will not disclose
till the trial
Jailer Jewell of Pennington formerly re-
sided in Newport and is well acquainted in
that vicinity. He has talked considerably
with the individuals and according to his
Judgment they took the following conrse,
which it will be plainly seen was entirely
out of the way of any telegraph connection
| tb.,;r thov loft